The article stated that in the absence of a dojo a book was better than nothing. I take that to mean that in the same thing as in the absence of proper food, boiled shoe leather can make a meal. It is not advisable to eat shoe leather whatsoever, but if you have no better option, it is better than nothing. Aikido books are good for what they are worth (in this instance communicating higher philosophy and principles), but watching a kung fu movie doesn't make me Bruce Lee.